Some people may dismiss SRAM's GX one by group as so much start line slop. Some may believe that anything under six inches of travel is an XC bike. Who are these people Certainly not us. Or Santa Cruz. And it's obvious that the Hightower Carbon 29 S Complete Mountain Bike doesn't care. It's a bike for people who ride, not people who read catalogues. Of course, those catalogue readers will be aware of the industry's recent forays into the world of low travel 29ers that ride more like trail bikes. Those people will be surprised by the Hightower's ability to push that trend into the all mountain world, adding rock gardens and heavily latticed root systems to the wagon wheel menu. The Hightower's mid range travel belies its true nature. Though its travel and wheel clearance may inspire initial comparisons with Mr. Moderate the 5010 or SC's equivalent of a center in basketball the Tallboy LT, Santa Cruz instead encourages us to think of it as the Bronson's taller brother. Yep, that Bronson. Given the implied big hit aggression of this comparison, we're compelled to dip into the lore of North American ball sports again for another analogy: the Hightower isn't a gangly hoopster so much as a two wheeled version of a predatory linebacker. The Hightower's 29er mode and a pair of chainstays that are 15mm shorter than the Tallboy LT mean it's a helluva lot faster over light terrain and rocky climbs than bikes like the Bronson however, its 67 degree head tube angle, Boost axles, and reworked Virtual Pivot Point suspension all mean that it's just as capable of engaging that speed on enduro descents that would make the steep angled Tallboy befoul its long legged pants. Whether you're into taking the direct route over the crux or the big line when dropping in, the Hightower can handle it. SC is so intent on proving the Hightower's outsized merit over rock gardens that it actually bypassed the Bronson and went straight to the 6. 5in Nomad for suspension inspiration. Th...